『 [ …As expected. ]
Hotaru was not surprised by Sunday's rhetoric.
[ We acknowledge the Nameless' perspective that Penacony needs change, but certainly not in the way you demand. ]
[ The Planet of Festivities must not, and will not, return to a chaotic, lawless land where the strong prey upon the weak. ]
[ Having fought your way through, you must have felt a glimpse of that era to some extent… ]
[ The weak were ruthlessly eliminated, and equality was non-existent. ]
[ In the cruel competition, people lived from hand to mouth, struggling to survive… ]
[ In the end, only heroes like you could succeed. ]
[ But let me ask—Stelle, if you didn't have the special identity bestowed upon you by the Stellaron, and you were just one of the fragile masses… ]
[ Which kind of Penacony would you prefer? ]
[ A savage land of survival of the fittest, or a dreamland paradise where everyone can be happy? ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Silver Wolf: "The 'special identity bestowed by the Stellaron'?"
Silver Wolf: "Is it possible that even if she didn't have a Stellaron in her body, her identity would still be just as special?"
Kafka: "Heh, what's important isn't the Stellaron, but the person herself."
Kafka: "Even without the Stellaron, she would still have other special qualities."
Sunday: "Therefore, she was born to be a hero; that is a result destined by fate."
Sunday: "From this perspective, she is undoubtedly lucky."
Stelle: "Tch, I don't believe in fate."
Stelle: "I only believe in my own choices!"
Stelle: "The fact that I have the chance to be a hero is entirely because I chose to do so."
Stelle: "I don't believe that if I hadn't boarded the Express and had chosen to stay on the Madam Herta Space Station instead, I would have achieved what I have now!"
Himeko: "Not bad. One cannot blame everything on fate."
Himeko: "Making the right choice is equally important!"
Sunday: "Hmm, I agree with your statement."
Sunday: "But those who can make the right choice are, after all, in the minority."
Sunday: "And most of these people have become heroes."
Sunday: "So, please answer my question."
Sunday: "If you were truly just one of the masses, which kind of dream in Penacony would you prefer?"
Stelle: "Hmm, thinking from the perspective of an ordinary person, I would prefer the latter."
Furina de Fontaine: "Uh… survival of the fittest is indeed a bit too cruel. If it were up to me, I'd choose the latter too…"
Paimon: "If you can live happily, why would you choose the unhappy option?"
Paimon: "To Paimon, this looks more like a single-choice question…"
Zhongli: "Speaking from general rationality, based on human nature, the vast majority of people would choose the latter option."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "But liking something is one thing, and reality is another."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "The fact is, in reality, such a perfect place will never exist."
Acheron: "Everyone being able to be happy… In my view… this grand wish is perhaps even more unattainable than making Nihility disappear."
Sunday: "...."
....
『 [ I don't know, why are you asking this? ]
Stelle did not answer Sunday's question.
[ That's not the point! ]
[ Stelle, don't let him lead you astray. ]
March 7th reminded Stelle.
[ Mr. Sunday, even if the members of the Oak Family cannot fully agree on the arrangements regarding the Stellaron, this is probably not the time to be spouting grand theories about the past and future of Penacony, right? ]
[ The Stellaron issue concerns the life and death of everyone in Penacony. ]
[ If you have a better proposal, the Astral Express is willing to listen. ]
[ Why don't you tell us the ins and outs of that meeting— ]
[ —so that we can know what exactly happened to Welt and Miss Robin that prevented them from arriving as promised. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
March 7th: "Oh, right, almost forgot, now is not the time to discuss this philosophical question."
March 7th: "The urgent priority now is to seal the Stellaron!"
Fu Xuan: "Everyone has witnessed the power of the Cancer of All Worlds."
Fu Xuan: "Whoever wants to use the power of the Stellaron to achieve their own goals will ultimately suffer severe backlash."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "The Family is far too arrogant, thinking their research on the Stellaron is so deep that they can easily utilize this power."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "Little do they know… this is only burying trouble for themselves."
Welt Yang: "The matter of the Stellaron is no small thing."
Welt Yang: "No matter what Penacony wants to do, as long as it involves the Stellaron, there is no turning back!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Stellaron… this thing is really terrifying."
Furina de Fontaine: "Just hearing it mentioned seems to make everyone turn pale."
Hu Tao: "A calamity that can trigger the destruction of an entire planet at any moment—who wouldn't be afraid of that?"
Lumine: "Afraid… yet it makes some ambitious people flock to it like ducks to water…"
Lumine: "I keep feeling… this is a bit like that 'Forbidden Knowledge'?"
Alhaitham: "The nature is similar, but the essence of the two is vastly different."
Robin: "Brother, I feel like you have lost your original intention."
Robin: "I understand your desperate desire to realize a paradise."
Robin: "But would a paradise built with the power of a Stellaron truly be a paradise?"
Robin: "Have you forgotten? We, as siblings, were also victims of the Stellaron once!"
Sunday: "Sigh… Robin, I haven't forgotten."
Sunday: "But… without the power of the Stellaron, I have no way to do everything that follows."
Stelle: "I'm asking, what exactly do you want to do?"
Hotaru: "What he wants to do… is nothing more than realizing his own ideal…"
Hotaru: "It's a pity… that it is ultimately just a fleeting dream, shattered at a touch…"
....
『 [ Heh, Navigator, that is exactly what I intended. ]
[ Since everyone is here, let's start from that meeting. ]
[ Let's talk about our dilemmas and choices, our respective ideals and beliefs… ]
[ And the only path we must ultimately walk. ]
After Sunday finished speaking, the scene shifted back to some time ago.
[ …Are you saying that for a long time, there have been villains who treated our Charmony Festival, meant to bestow blessings upon the world… as a tool to realize their ambitions? ]
In the silent plaza, the Dreammaster was controlling an avatar, meeting with Robin and the others.
[ Exactly, Dreammaster. ]
[ Once the Charmony Festival begins, the power of the Stellaron will spread throughout Penacony along with the singing… ]
[ At that time, everyone in the dream will be unable to wake up. ]
Robin nodded, explaining the stakes to the Dreammaster.
[ Hmm, this is unexpected. ]
[ The dreamscape is the result of the joint maintenance of the five major Families. If someone uses the Charmony to spread the power of the Stellaron wantonly, this person must hold a high position… ]
[ Do you have any suspects? ]
The Dreammaster asked.
[ May I ask, do you truly not know of Stellaron's existence? ]
Welt felt that the Dreammaster was playing dumb.
[ Heh… I never thought this Nameless would point the finger directly at me. It is truly astonishing. ]
The Dreammaster's tone was somewhat surprised.
[ If there is any offense, the Astral Express apologizes to you sincerely. ]
[ But the situation is urgent, and there is no time for a delicate investigation. ]
[ This is also for the stability of the dreamscape, so please dispel our concerns. ]
Welt pressed on step by step, not giving the Dreammaster any chance to bluff.
[ Dreammaster, as long as it is proven that the Charmony Festival has nothing to do with the Stellaron and that it was our overthinking… I will return to the stage to sing as promised. ]
Robin also followed up.
[ Hmm… ]
[ Sunday, Robin, I've watched you two grow up, and know your dispositions like the back of my hand. Both of you right now can surely be lauded as THEIR most devout advocates... I already know your resolve. ]
[ This matter is of great importance and not a trivial one. ]
[ Since Mr. Welt asks with such sincerity, I will naturally act personally to respond. ]
[ If necessary, the entire Oak Family can also be at your disposal. ]
[ Sunday, might I ask you to beseech THEM to cast THEIR light upon me, and question me in THEIR stead, so that no lies may be concealed? ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Good grief, this Dreammaster is brave enough, actually daring to try Aventurine's tactic?"
March 7th: "That thing is not something to mess around with."
March 7th: "Aventurine was lucky, that's how he escaped the influence."
March 7th: "If it were someone else, they probably wouldn't be so lucky."
Furina de Fontaine: "Could it be that this Dreammaster really has no problems at all?"
Furina de Fontaine: "Is Sunday the only one with a problem??"
Hu Tao: "Judging by his fearless performance, it seems that really is the case?"
Boothill: "Damn it, this old thing doesn't look like a good bird at all."
Boothill: "He dares to do this, maybe it's because Sunday's 'curse' wouldn't affect him at all?"
Li Sushang: "Mr. Boothill's words make a lot of sense, I'm inclined to think so too…"
Aventurine: "Heh, just putting on an act."
Aventurine: "As the Dreammaster of Penacony, not knowing the location of the Stellaron is pure bullshit."
Aventurine: "Even… the high-level officials of the entire Family might not be unaware of this."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "The heads of the various Families in Penacony are not pushovers."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "They all scheme against each other."
Dr. Veritas Ratio: "Therefore, to achieve their own goals, even if they know that the Harmony of Penacony has been polluted by the Stellaron, they will only pretend to be blind."
Jade: "Just infighting. No matter how great the philosophy of Harmony is, it cannot change the fact that the people of the Family still have their own selfish desires."
Stelle: "Eh, eh??"
Stelle: "Who are you? Why did you suddenly pop out?"
March 7th: "Ja… Jade?!"
March 7th: "Such a familiar name… You are the third envoy from the IPC to arrive in Penacony?!"
Jade: "You two don't need to be so surprised. I have been in this live stream room all along."
Jade: "It's just that I was a bit busy before, so I didn't have time to have a friendly exchange with everyone."
Topaz: "Ms. Jade is a super busy person; it's already rare that she could spare time to speak."
Welt Yang: "The IPC is sending three envoys in a row this time; it seems they are really determined to win Penacony…"
Jade: "Heh, if I said Penacony was already in the bag, that would be too arrogant."
Jade: "Although for the IPC, the fact is already so, but since it hasn't been settled yet, I won't be so arbitrary."
Navia Caspar: "This tone… is really so confident."
Aventurine: "Penacony is ultimately digging its own grave; returning to the embrace of the IPC is already inevitable."
....
『 [ I will obey your will. ]
Sunday nodded and agreed.
[ Robin, could you witness this on the spot, record the truth, and convey my innocence, so that all the stigma will dissipate completely? ]
The Dreammaster looked at Robin again.
[ I will obey your will. ]
Robin also agreed to the Dreammaster's request.
[ We wish for His will to be done on earth… as it is in heaven. ]
The Dreammaster said solemnly.
After that, Sunday began to recite the prayer.
[ Oh, Triple-Faced Soul, please sear his tongue and palms with a hot iron, so that he will not be able to fabricate lies and make false vows. ]
After Sunday finished speaking, an inexplicable power began to be bestowed upon the Dreammaster.
[ Let us begin. There is nothing else to prepare. ]
The Dreammaster appeared fearless, very open, and aboveboard.
[ Let me ask, have you always been devout to your God, and never worshipped other gods? ]
[ Naturally. ]
[ Do you love your God as you do yourself, always heeding THEIR admonishments?]
[ Naturally. ]
[ Have you strayed from the path expected by your God, betraying THEIR name? ]
[ Never. ]
[ Have you ever been inordinate with your asks of your God, coveting more than the foundation of the creation itself? ]
[ Never. ]
[ Then, the last question— ]
[ Can you swear that you will fulfill everything you have promised, whether in the past, present, or future? ]
[ With the Aeon as my witness, if I do not deliver on my words, or if I renege on my vows, may I be cursed in accordance with divine law. ]』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Navia Caspar: "Answering without hesitation, not dragging it out at all?!"
Navia Caspar: "Is the Dreammaster really okay?"
Zhongli: "I think not necessarily."
Zhongli: "These questions are a bit too strange."
Paimon: "What's strange about them?"
Paimon: "Asking if the Dreammaster is devout in his faith to the Harmony."
Paimon: "Isn't that asking the right thing?"
Lumine: "Paimon… the point is… what Mr. Sunday asked was not the Dreammaster's faith in the Harmony!"
Nahida: "The content Mr. Sunday asked was whether the Dreammaster was devout to his God…"
Nahida: "But what if… the God the Dreammaster worshipped from the beginning was not the Aeon of Harmony?"
Nilou: "What?!"
Nilou: "This… this can't be, right?"
Nilou: "After all, the Dreammaster is a member of the Family?"
Li Sushang: "That's right, how could the Family be infiltrated by an outsider and even become such a high-ranking official?"
Li Sushang: "I feel… the Dreammaster is most likely fine, right?"
Welt Yang: "No, Ms. Nahida's guess is correct…"
Welt Yang: "I can now fully confirm that the Aeon the Dreammaster worships is not Xipe of the Harmony!"
....
(Finally, we have Jade in the Chat!)